A Harvard law professor with a special interest in Internet law has formed a University-based think tank called the Global Poker Strategic Thinking Society (GPSTS), which he hopes will take root in colleges and universities everywhere and will use poker as a an educational tool to teach everything from basic life skills to war games at military colleges.
"Poker is one of the best metaphors for teaching life skills across a variety of disciplines," Said Charles Nesson through a press release. He couldn't be reached for a comment as of press time.
Nesson is officially announcing the formation of the group on Aug. 19, in Singapore, at an international conference called "State of Play." The society's website, www.gpsts.com, will go live the same day.
Nesson believes that poker and its strategies could be used for the good of the world. The goal of his society is to offer strategic thinking workshops to secondary schools, colleges and community centers, using poker to teach strategic thinking.
Harvard will have the first GPSTS, and the society eventually hopes to hold NCAA-style championships featuring teams of poker players representing everyone from members of graduate programs to professionals from all walks of life.
According to the press release, Nesson believes that poker concepts can "teach basic life skills, strategic thinking, geopolitical analysis, risk assessment, and money management. The goal is to create an open online curriculum centered on poker that will draw the brightest minds together, both within and outside of the conventional university setting, to promote open education and Internet democracy."
